jones



. (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. C. JONES.- PUDDLING FURNACE.

Patented Sept; 18, 1888.

3 M w m w (No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 2.

T. 0 JONES. ,PUDDL'ING FURNACE.

N0. 389,574. Patented Sept. 18, 1888.

WHTMQ o e a Tac7571e6 NNNNNN PholwLitlwgraphar, Washington. D. c.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 T. C. JONES. PUDDLING FURNACE.

Patented Sept N. an mwuu n w, Wuhington. n. a

(No Model.)

qWi/Cne 'puddling-furnace.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIQE.

THOMAS OATESBY JONES, OF LYN OHBURG, VIRGINIA.

PUDDLING- FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,574, dated September 18, 1888,

Application filed June 18, 1887. Serial No. 241,759. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS CATESBY J ONES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynchburg, State of -Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Puddling-Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for puddling molten iron from blast-furnaces; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of the parts of the mechanism employed in connection therewith, which will be more fully hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a blastfurnace, the puddling-furnace showing my improved mechanisms in connection therewith, and also showing the puddling-furnace in section. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the blast-furnace, with the improvement shown in connection therewith. Fig. dis a horizontal sectional view of the Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the puddling furnace, with the stack shown in section. Fig. 5 is afront view of a portion of the said puddling-furnace, on an enlarged scale, showing the damper mechanism and the adjustment therefor. Fig. 6 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the damper and draft attachments, a portion thereof being shown in section. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the two ladles. Fig. Sis a side elevation of the receiving and supply hand-ladies in po sition to receive a charge.

A indicates the blast-furnace, and B the puddling-furnace, which are constructed in the ordinary manner and have a common chimney through the medium of the exit-pipe H, which connects the blast-furnace with the puddling-furnace. The gas issuing from the top portion of the blast-furnace passes through the pipe H, and by means of the branch pipe I a portion thereof passes into the fire-chamber of the puddling-furnace B and is consumed, and the remaining portion through the branch pipe Jinto the stack B of the puddling-furnace, through which it escapes into the open air, together with the products of combustion issuing from the fire-chamber of the puddlingfurnace. The blast-furnace A has a closed in the county of Campbell and top or cap-cover, A, and by which construc tion the gas must of necessity be forced through the pipe H, which is connected to the upper portion of the blast-furnace. I thus utilize the blast-furnace gas to heat the puddlingfurnace.

The essential feature of my invention is the conveyance of a metal while in a molten state from the blast-furnace to the paddling-furnace by means of receiving supply and hand ladles, which are adapted to move upon trucks running upon tramways. To this end I construct a truck, D, having wheels D and D the forward wheels, D, being of smaller diameter, while the rear wheels, D", are of larger diame ter, for a purpose which will be hereinafter set forth. constructed of two longitudinally-arranged track-irons, D upon which suitable flanged wheels, (I, are mounted, which are in connection with the receiving ladle C. This receiving-ladle is constructed of a configuration well understood in the art, but upon one side thereof is provided with an outflow-gate, 0, moving in vertical ways a c, and adapted to be raised and lowered when desired, through the medium of a rack-bar, 0, connected to the upper portion of said gate, which rack-bar is operated by a spur-pinion, 0 mounted upon a shaft, 0 having movement in journal-boxes c, and provided with an operating Winch or handle, a.

The forward end of the truck D is provided with a very small wheel, as hereinbefore set forth, and the rear of the truck with a very large wheel. The wheels of the said truck as thus constructed are adapted to be mounted upon an inclined track or tramway, n, and through the inclination of the said track or tramway is due'the construction of the truck with the small forward wheels and the en larged rear wheels, whereby the ladle supported thereon is held in an upright position with a true horizontal base for the purpose of receiving the molten metal from the blast-furnace. To the forward portion of the said truck D a cable or chain, E, is secured, which at its other end passes over and is wound, when operated, upon a drum or Windlass, E, which is mounted in the upper portion of suitable standards, 6, and is set in motion by a The frame-work of this truck D is suitable gearing, c, and ratchet mechanism 6, which is operated by a winch or handle, e, projecting from each side of the standards 0, and secured to the shaft upon which the drum or Windlass E is mounted. In revolving the handles 0 the cable or chain E" is wound upon the Windlass or drum E, and when such operation is effected the truck D is drawn up the inclined tramway E,said truck always assuming a horizontal position, which is due to the construction of the large and small wheels, upon which the same is mounted. \Vhen the ladle C, with its framework, is drawn to the standards 0, and the chain of the truck B is wound upon the Windlass E, and the truck drawn up in proximity to said Windlass and over the same, the said ladle G and its framework are pushed over on another tramway,E under which a third tramway,E,is arranged, running to the tramway E at right angles.

Upon the tramway E" the receivingladle B is mounted, being connected to a suitable truck having wheels of equal diameter in a manner similar to the ladle C. The ladle B v is constructed in the form of a haudladle,

having handles 7) projecting outwardly from each side thereof, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. In addition to the handles b, connected to the ladle B a bail, If, is also secured in connection therewith, by which the ladle may be elevated. The tramway E passes in close proximity to the puddling-furnace B,and when thesaid ladle B has received a supply of the molten metal from the supply-ladle C it is moved along the tramway E until it arrives in the proper position with respect to the puddling'furnace B, when the bail If thereof is secured to an elevating chain or cable, I), which is mounted in connection with a windlass or drum, B and by which the said ladle B is elevated and its contents deposited in the chamber of the pud- (Hing-furnace.

\Vhen the receiving supply ladle C is mounted or is placed in a position upon the tramway E, connecting with the tramway E,

to be engaged by the hand supply-ladle B, the gate of said ladle G is opened by means of the mechanism hereinbefore set forth, and a quantity of the molten metal allowed to run into the ladle B, when it is shifted in proximity to the piuldling-furnace B, as hereinbefore stated, and its contents deposited in the said furnace.

It will be understood that a series of the ladlcs will be used, so that the contents of the receiving-ladle G will be quickly deposited in the chambers of the puddling-furnace B. Vhcn the ladle 0 shall have been relieved of ation will be repeated as hereinbefore described.

It will be understood that the ladles 13" will be provided with suitable drawbars and handles, 1), by which they are conveyed and transported upon the tramway E.

The gases coming through the pipe H from the blast-furnace are conveyed to the puddling-furnace B, and either passed through the firechamber thereof through the medium of the branch pipe I or into the fine or chimney of the said puddling-furnace by means of the branch pipe J. As shown in Fig. 4, a series of the pipes I will be used, which are of smaller diameter than the main pipe H, while the branch J is of equal diameter to the said pipe II. The branch pipes I are secured to branches 1, running outwardly from the main pipe H at right angles thereto. At the point of intersection of the pipes I with the pipe H, and in the pipe II beyond said point 0fintersection, dampers N are mounted, by which the gas passing through the pipe II may be controlled in its speed to the pnddling-furnace B and be directed either straight to the stack of the said puddling-fnrnace through the branch J or through the branches 1' to the pipes or branches 1 into the fire-chamber of the said piuldling-furnacc, as indicated by the arrows. By this means it will be seen that means are provided whereby the gas from the blast-furnace may be consumed in the puddling-furnacc or be carried directly to the smoke-stack of said furnace and escape into the outer atmosphere.

The front plates of the puddling-furnace are provided with a series of dampers. These plates B are constructed with a series of apertures b", which are arranged in circular form, and, as shown, being six in nu mher. As shown, the said series of openings or apertures I) are arranged in series and individually situatcd. To the inner portion of each of these apertures a short cylinder, 0, is secured, which projects some distance into the fi re-cham ber of the said puddling-furnace, so that the draft is carried thereinto over the flame, which materially aids combustion, as will be readily understood. On the outer side of theplates B ajseries of dampers, K, are mounted, which are adapted to engage with the apertures I)". These dampers K consist of a series of radial arms, 70, pivotal] y connected at a common center, and have disks secured upon their outer ends, which are adapted to engage with the apertures b" to close the same when desired. These dampers may be operated separately to open or close any one of the series, or they may be opened or closed together in connection with a number of said series. I preferably construct said dampers, however, so that each series thereof on the same horizontal line shall be operated together, and to accomplish this projections are secured to the said dampers K to which bars M are attached and operated from one side of the plate B to control the said damper and operate the same in unison, as will be readily understood. I do not, however, make any claim to the damper in this application, the same being claimed in a separate application filed by me July 16,

. dling-furnace, and a great saving in fuel necessarily resulting from the fact that a greater amount of heat would be required to be gen erated to convert the pig-iron into a molten state. By my method that amount of heat only is required which is necessary to retain the metal in a molten state.

The novelty and utility of my improvement are obviously apparent and appreciable, and it is unnecessary to further enlarge upon the same herein.

It is obvious that many minor changes in the construction and arrangement of the several parts may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-T 1. A plant for puddling metal, consisting of a blast-furnace, a puddling-furnace, inclined and horizontally-arranged tramways between said furnaces, and receiving-and supply ladles mounted on and moving over the tramways from the blast-furnace to the paddling-furnace, substantially as described.

2. A plant for puddling metal, consisting of a blast-furnace, a puddlingfurnace, inclined and horizontally-arranged.tramways between said furnaces, receiving and supply ladles mounted on said tramways, mechanism for moving said ladles over the tramways between said furnaces, and a hoisting device for raising the supply-ladles and discharging the contents thereof into the pud'dling-furnace, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the blast-furnace, the tramway E, leading therefrom, the truck D, carrying the receiving-ladle C, the latter to receive the supply of molten metal from the blast-furnace, the tramway E", leading to the puddling-furnace, and the ladle B mounted upon a truck to run on tramway E", the ladle B receiving the metal from the ladle O and conveying the same to the puddling-furnace, as set forth.

4. A plant for puddling metal, comprising a blast-furnace, puddling-furnaces, tramways between the two, and wheeled ladles mounted on said tramways to conveythe molten metal from the blast-furnace to the puddling-furnaces, as set forth.

5. In combination with the blast-furnace, the puddling-furnace, the ladle O, mounted upon a truck to run on one of the tramways, the ladle B mounted on the truck to run on another tramway, and the sliding gate 0' in the ladle O, with actuating mechanism to move the gate to allow the contents of the ladle O to flow into the ladle B, as set forth.

6. In combination with a blast-furnace, the puddling-furnace, theinclined tramway E, the truck D, running on the tramway and carrying the ladle C, the elevating mechanism for raising the truck D with the ladle up the tramway E, the horizontal tramway E connecting with the inclined tramway E, the tramway E below the tramway E and leading to the paddling-furnace, and the ladle B mounted upon a truck running on the tramway E, said ladle B receiving its supply from the ladle C while the latter is upon the tramway E, as set forth.

7. In combination with the blast-furnace, the tramway E, leading therefrom, the truck D, supporting the ladle O, the tramway E, leading to the puddling-furnace, the ladle B supported upon a truck, said ladle B receiving the molten metal from the ladle O, and the elevating mechanism to raise the ladle B from off its truck and allow the contents of said ladle to be poured into the puddling-furnace, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in pres ence of two witnesses.

' THOMAS OA'IESBY JONES.

WVitnesses:

JOHN L. ADAMS, W. O. N. RANDOLPH, Jr. 

